Entering Week 8, the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback debate was already breaking sound barriers. What happened in the game against the New England Patriots has just solidified the fans’ stance that they no longer want quarterback Dillon Gabriel as their quarterback.
The fans are backing Shedeur Sanders to be the Cleveland Browns’ new starting quarterback over Gabriel moving forward.
What Happened In The Browns-Patriots Game?
The Patriots defeated the Browns in their Week 8 game, 32-13. Gabriel finished the afternoon completing 21 of 35 pass attempts for 156 yards, threw two touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Browns now have a 2-6 record.
Gabriel had taken over Joe Flacco’s role since the veteran signal-caller was benched and eventually traded to the Cincinnati Bengals. Now, with 2025 fifth-round NFL Draft pick Sanders behind him on the depth chart, and Cleveland not doing any better with Gabriel, fans are eager to see what Sanders has to offer.
What are fans saying about Shedeur Sanders starting for Cleveland?
Fans took to X during New England’s routing of Cleveland to express their disdain for Gabriel, suggesting he’s not an NFL-caliber quarterback.
One fan wrote, “@clevelandbrowns Please Bench Dillon Gabriel !!! Play Shedeur Sanders !!!”
@clevelandbrowns Please Bench Dillon Gabriel !!! Play Shedeur Sanders !!!
— ♎KEVO THA PREZO♎ (@2_Comma_Kev0) October 26, 2025
Other fans followed down the same sentiment road, urging the team to capitalize on the large quarterback pack the team already possesses. The fundamental focus is simple, ‘We saw one not working, let’s try the other one out.’
Another fan wrote, “@Browns QB Dillon Gabriel is not a starting quarterback. He’s a back up at best. It’s time to bench him and see what we have in Shedeur Sanders. #Browns.”
@Browns QB Dillon Gabriel is not a starting quarterback. He’s a back up at best. It’s time to bench him and see what we have in Shedeur Sanders. #Browns
— Jim (@Mythrandiel241) October 26, 2025
Fans continued to rip into Gabriel and head coach Kevin Stefanski for continuing to play the rookie quarterback and refusing to give Sanders a legitimate look. “I just refuse to believe Kevin Stafanski thinks Dillon Gabriel is a better QB than Shedeur Sanders,” one fan wrote.
I just refuse to believe Kevin Stafanski thinks Dillon Gabriel is a better QB than Shedeur Sanders.
— dal (@yxdally) October 26, 2025
The Tweets didn’t stop there, as fans continued to press the organization to allow Shedeur Sanders to lead Cleveland’s offense. One fan felt Sanders’ back injury was a hoax, writing:
“I feel like everytime the Cleveland browns know Dillon Gabriel gone look bad they says shedeur sanders is out with a back injury so they be forced to play him … when Gabriel is obviously struggling.”
I feel like everytime the Cleveland browns know Dillon Gabriel gone look bad they says shedeur sanders is out with a back injury so they be forced to play him … when Gabriel is obviously struggling
— Sosa (@WillSosa__) October 26, 2025
Another fan emphasized how superprocessing the situation would give the team the right answer. He wrote, “Super processing would be reading the situation and starting Shedeur Sander against the Jets. Dillon Gabriel is not an NFL player. #DawgPound”
Super processing would be reading the situation and starting Shedeur Sander against the Jets. Dillon Gabriel is not an NFL player. #DawgPound
— John Edwards (@JohnEdw76313289) October 26, 2025
One fan summed up all the emotions and wrote a rant about how he was frustrated seeing the same issues every year.
He expressed, “I’m over the Dillon Gabriel experiment. I’m over the Kevin Stefanski era. I’m over the excuses year in and year out. #DawgPound #Browns.”
I’m over the Dillon Gabriel experiment. I’m over the Kevin Stefanski era. I’m over the excuses year in and year out. #DawgPound #Browns
— Mike Winkler (The Movie Guys) (@TheMikeWinkler) October 26, 2025
The Browns will have a bye next week before facing the New York Jets on Sunday, November 9, 2025, on the road. It will be interesting to see if Stefanski finally allows Sanders to prove himself the answer to the Browns’ prayers at quarterback.
